Safety electrical switch



Aug. 24, 1937. z. A. HUGHES ET AL 2,091,148

SAFETY ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 14, 195e Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SAFETY ELECTRICAL SWITCH Zachariah A. Hughes, Houston, Tex., and Benjamin P. Glover, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 14, 1936, Serial No. 63,842

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a safety electrical switch.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch of the character described which will auto- 5 matically break the circuit into which it is connected when moved into an abnormal position.

The prime object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch adapted to be mounted in a motor vehicle and of such construction that 10 it will break the circuit leading from the battery to the ignition system in case the vehicle is suddenly stopped, as in case of a collision, or is upset or assumes a semi-inverted position; by

the use of this type of switch, the likelihood of 15 rlre in case of a motor vehicle accident will be 3U Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates a switch casing which is bellshaped in form and whose lower end is closed by the cap 2 having the inside concave seat 3 which is preferably lined with the resilient lining 4 and which is shaped to receive the metal ball 5.

Formed integrally with the casing I and extending across the top thereof, there are the u cylinders 6, 6. The casing, cap, and the cylinders are formed of suitable non-conducting material and the casing is provided with a bracket l by means of which may be secured to the front board or panel of the vehicle, as shown in Figure o 4.v Between the cylinders 5 and at right angles thereto there is a cylinder 8 in which is mounted a plunger 9 whose ends are formed of metal, but whose intermediate section I is formed of non-conducting material.

50 in the cylinders 6 are the sliding contacts il,

(Cl. 2ML-52) II, formed of conducting material and normally held inwardly by the coil push-springs I2, I2. These contacts Il are connected into the electrical circuit formed by the wires I3, Il, leading from the battery to the coil I of the ignition system of the vehicle.

The outer end of the plunger 9 is formed with an enlarged head to limit the movement of the plunger inwardly, and when it is in normal position. the contacts I I are in contact with the metallic outer end of the plunger 9 so that the circuit will be completed. In case the vehicle is suddenly stopped, as in case of a collision, or is partly, or entirely overturned, the ball 5 will strike the inner end of the plunger 9 and move said plunger outwardly carrying the non-conducting section I0 into registration with the contacts II, thus breaking the circuit to the ignition system.

The inner end of the plunger 9 has an external, annular groove I6, and mounted within the cylinder I1 in the top of the casing there is a transversely movable dog I8 normally urged inwardly by the coil spring I9.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way oi illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What we claim is:-

A circuit maker and breaker comprising a casing having a concaved seat, a spherical weight on said seat, a plunger mounted in the casing whose lower end is spaced from said weight, said plunger having an electrical conducting surface on the upper portion and a non-conducting surface on the lower portion, a pair of cylinders mounted in the casing, pistons in the cylinders, the ends of said pistons contacting said plunger, said pistons being connected into an electrical circuit and completing said circuit when the pistons are in contact with one end of said plunger, said weight being effective upon displacement from the seat to actuate the plunger into position to bring the nonconducting material into contact with the pistons and thereby breaking said circuit and means for locking said plunger in circuit breaking position.

ZACHARIAH A. HUGHES. BENJAMIN P. GLDVER. 

